𝐀𝐧 𝐄𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞

1. The new employee

Aarushi's Pov:-

The autumn we met felt like a whole life squeezed into short moments. I recall how his eyes lit up when he saw me, like he'd been waiting forever for us to meet.

Our love was strong, all-consuming, as if we were trying to fight the very rules of the world that kept pulling us apart.

We seemed close, yet were far away, like stars far apart in the sky. We were pulled together, yet the space between us was endless.

Like lines that never meet, we ran next to each other, but never touched, never really crossed. It was a mean trick of luck, to be so close yet so out of reach.

He shone too bright, like the sun. His fire and energy were too much, pulling me in but also burning me.

I was the star seen at dawn, pretty yet quick to fade, never able to match his fire for long. I couldn't stay near him without losing who I was.

As time went by, I wilted in the heat of his love. It was too much, too strong. And he, he watched helplessly as I drifted away, like leaves falling or sand slipping through hands.

Each moment we spent together felt like a bit of sand falling in an hourglass, unstoppable and sure to end.

I often think if, in another world, our likenesses might have brought us together instead of pushing us apart.

Maybe there, we would have been meant to last, our bond made stronger by our sameness rather than strained by it.

But in this life, in this world, our love was a beautiful yet sad story that couldn't go on.

Looking back, I see that our time together taught me that nothing lasts forever. It showed me to value the moments, to hold onto the memories even as they faded.

I'll always remember how he looked at me, how we loved so deeply. But I also know now that not all loves are meant to last. Some are there to teach us, to shape us, to help us grow.

In the end, our bond wasn't meant to last, but it left a mark on my heart that won't go away. And for that, I'll always be thankful.

When I could write no more, I closed the diary and placed it in the side drawer of my bed. I laid down on the soft mattress, but sleep would not come.

No matter how comfortable the bed, there was no escaping the hurt. I had walked away from his life willingly, but it still cut so deeply.

Trust me, the ache never really goes away.

I tossed and turned, remembering all our moments together. The good times and the bad swirled in my mind until finally, mercifully, sleep consumed me.

_________

I woke with a start to the harsh buzzing of my alarm clock. 6 am already.

I stretched and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. No time to linger on the memories and dreams that had haunted me through the night.

I quickly freshened up and went to the kitchen. Cooking always helped clear my mind.

I prepared a simple lunch to take to the office, carefully packing it up. For breakfast, I decided on some instant noodles fast and easy.

Once I had eaten and cleaned up, I double checked that I had everything ready for the day. Laptop, I pad, lunch bag.

I locked up the apartment and headed outside to hail a taxi. Another day, another routine to lose myself in. Hopefully it would keep my mind occupied, at least for a little while.